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Research news

Breakthrough for cholangiocarcinoma cancer patients Result of an international clinical trial have shown for the first time that targeted therapy can improve the outcome of patients diagnosed with advanced cholangiocarcinoma (a type of biliary tract cancer), an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. The data from the ClarIDHy phase III study shows that ivosidenib, an oral drug targeting the IDH1 mutation, found in approximately 20% of advanced cholagiocarcinoma patients, significantly improved progression-free survival with a trend to improved overall survival compared to placebo. The drug also increased the chances of the cancer being under control at six and 12 months after the start of treatment, compared to placebo. Professor Juan Valle, principal investigator for this study at The Christie said: “This is a breakthrough in our research into cholangiocarcinoma. We have found a meaningful treatment that increases the chance of being free from progression by 30% at six months after starting treatment and that prolongs survival from 6 months with placebo to 10.8 months with ivosidenib. "We now have a new option for patients. This is likely to lead to a change in standard of care and encourage further research into targeted therapy for this disease.” The Christie was the largest UK recruiter to the trial that had 188 patients across 38 sites globally.

Professor Radford becomes president Professor John Radford has become president of Lymphoma Action, having had a long standing association with the charity.

Global and UK first for ECMT The experimental cancer medicine team (ECMT) has recruited the first global patient to the ‘SN38’ first in human trial for patients with advanced solid tumours. Dr Natalie Cook is the chief investigator for the study. The patient, who has metastatic breast cancer, is given the treatment intravenously. The team has also recruited the first UK patient to a phase II ‘FUZE’ trial which treats patients with solid tumours. The patient’s primary cancer is cholangio- carcinoma. The drug is given intravenously. Dr Donna Graham is the principle investigator for this study. He’s narrated videos, spoken at patient conferences, reviewed their information resources and been a long-term member of their medical advisory panel, which he’ll now chair in his new role. His team at The Christie already work closely with Lymphoma Action, speaking at events and advising on forthcoming clinical trials of new treatments that patients can take part in. The charity lists all current clinical trials on its online database TrialsLink – one of its information services for people diagnosed with hard-to-treat lymphoma.

Lorraine becomes UK’s first advanced nurse practitioner in clinical research Lorraine Turner has been appointed to the newly created research division post of consultant advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) making her the first nurse consultant in the UK for clinical research.

to clinical research closer to home; with particular focus on hard-to-reach populations in ethnically diverse and deprived communities. Lorraine has well established working relationships with key stakeholders both at The Christie, locally and nationally which will help drive this strategy forward. She’ll aim to build on the successful initiatives she has put in place at The Christie, by replicating them at peripheral sites. Lorraine has also started a part-time PhD in Cancer Sciences at The University of Manchester this month.

She will be based in the CRF and will start the new job at the beginning of October. One of her remits will be to raise the profile of research within the organisation, and sites across Greater Manchester, to encourage referrals to experimental clinical trials and provide access

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